Cup lid and method of using same
View Patent ↗A lid for a cup that includes a top cover, a first continuous sidewall, a curved, second continuous sidewall that forms an annular groove, a third sidewall that terminates to form a rim, and a plurality of ridges. The plurality of ridges are arranged circumferentially on and protruding radially inwardly from an inner surface of the third continuous sidewall. Each ridge of the plurality of ridges includes a first end adjacent to the annular groove, a second end arranged adjacent to the rim, and a height that progressively increases as each ridge extends downwardly from the lid. The lid can be secured to a cup by pressing the lid against the ridges while rotating the lid. The lip of the lid is deformed when the ridges press against it. The lip slides along the entire length of the ridges before being deposited in the annular groove.
1 . A lid for a cup comprising:
a top cover,
a first continuous sidewall extending downwardly from an outer edge of the top cover,
a curved, second continuous sidewall extending downwardly from the first continuous sidewall, wherein the second continuous sidewall forms an annular groove,
a third continuous sidewall extending downwardly from a lower edge of the second continuous sidewall, wherein the third continuous sidewall tapers outwardly from the lower edge of the second continuous wall and terminates to form a rim,
a plurality of ridges arranged circumferentially on and protruding radially inwardly from an inner surface of the third continuous sidewall, wherein each ridge of the plurality of ridges includes a first end arranged adjacent to the annular groove, a second end arranged adjacent to the rim, and a height that progressively increases as the ridge extends from the second end to the first end, and
a plurality of channels, each channel being defined between adjacent ridges of the plurality of ridges and having a pitch in the range of about 25 mm to about 45 mm.
2 . The lid of claim 1 , wherein each channel has a pitch of about 35 mm.
3 . The lid of claim 1 , wherein each ridge has a triangular cross-section.
4 . The lid of claim 1 , wherein each ridge has a width that progressively decreases as the ridge extends from the first end to the second end.
5 . The lid of claim 1 , wherein the first end of each ridge of the plurality of ridges contacts the lower edge of the second continuous sidewall.
6 . The lid of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ridges are configured for engaging a lip of a paper cup during the process of securing the lid to the paper cup and forming indentations circumferentially around the lip.
7 . The lid of claim 1 , wherein an annular groove is configured for receiving a cup lip.
8 . A method of securing the lid of claim 1 to a cup including arranging the rim around a lip of the cup and pressing the lid downward onto the lip while rotating the lid, whereby the plurality of ridges impinge upon and deform the lip, and depositing the lip within the annular groove.
9 . A method of securing a lid to a cup comprising:
providing a lid having,
a top,
a continuous sidewall extending downwardly from the top and terminating to form a rim,
an annular groove formed in the continuous sidewall,
a plurality of ridges arranged circumferentially on and protruding radially inwardly from an inner surface of the continuous sidewall, wherein each ridge of the plurality of ridges includes a first end arranged adjacent to the annular groove, a second end arranged adjacent to the rim, and a height that progressively increases as the ridge extends from the second end to the first end,
arranging the rim around a lip of the cup,
contacting the second end of each ridge of the plurality of ridges with the lip,
pressing the lid against the plurality of ridges while rotating the lid, whereby each ridge of the plurality of ridges deforms the lip, and
sliding the lip along from the second end to the first end of each ridge of the plurality of ridges and thereafter depositing the lip within the annular groove.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein pressing the lid against the plurality of ridges while rotating the lid forms a plurality of indentations within the lip, the plurality of indentations being circumferentially arranged about the lip.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of ridges includes at least ten ridges.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the continuous sidewall includes a plurality of channels, each channel being defined between adjacent ridges of the plurality of ridges and having a pitch in the range of about 25 mm to about 45 mm.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein no ridge of the plurality of ridges is in contact with another ridge of the plurality of ridges.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein each ridge of the plurality of ridges has an arc measure of about 45 degrees along a circumference of the rim.
15 . A cup lid comprising:
a top cover,
a continuous sidewall extending downwardly from the top cover and terminating to form a continuous rim,
an annular groove formed in the continuous sidewall,
a continuous sidewall portion extending to and between an edge of the annular groove and the continuous rim, wherein the continuous sidewall portion tapers outwardly from the edge of the annular groove as it extends to the continuous rim, and
a plurality of ridges arranged circumferentially on and protruding radially inwardly from an inner surface of the continuous sidewall portion, wherein each ridge of the plurality of ridges includes a first end arranged adjacent to the annular groove, a second end arranged adjacent to the continuous rim, and a height that progressively increases as the ridge extends from the second end to the first end,
wherein no ridge of the plurality of ridges contacts another ridge of the plurality of ridges.
16 . The cup lid of claim 15 , wherein each ridge of the plurality of ridges has an arc measure in the range of about 30 degrees to about 55 degrees along a circumference of the continuous rim.
17 . The cup lid of claim 15 , wherein the continuous sidewall portion includes a plurality of channels, each channel being defined between adjacent ridges of the plurality of ridges and having a pitch in the range of about 25 mm to about 45 mm.
18 . The cup lid of claim 15 , wherein each ridge of the plurality of ridges is formed by two walls extending from the sidewall portion and intersecting an angle of about 90 degrees or less.
19 . The cup lid of claim 15 , wherein each ridge has a width that progressively decreases as the ridge extends from the first end to the second end.
20 . A method of securing the cup lid of claim 15 to a cup including arranging the rim around a lip of the cup and pressing the cup lid downward onto the lip while rotating the lid, whereby the plurality of ridges impinge upon and deform the lip, and thereafter depositing the lip within the annular groove.